“Be Wise and Participate”: Introducing Student-led Cross-Disciplinary Peer Support for Master Students
Keywords:
Postgraduate, Loneliness, Peer Support, Student-led Conference, MotivationAbstract
Master students in their second year of study often feel isolated from their peers as most of their time is spent alone working on individual research for their thesis. Two recent Norwegian Students’ Health and Satisfaction Surveys (SHoT) in 2021 and 2022 had concerning statistics about student well-being, particularly at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) where more than a third often felt lonely, excluded or isolated. Studies show that a lack of contact with peers can affect motivation and therefore study progression negatively. Peer support mechanisms have proven successful in altering this pattern. To address these concerns at the postgraduate level, the Faculty of Social Sciences piloted a cross-disciplinary conference for second-year Master students, giving them an opportunity to present their research, interact with peers from different disciplines, and receive feedback. Relying on student facilitators to both organize and oversee the event, this initiative aimed to reinvigorate students and enhance a sense of belonging in the academic community. Responses after the event indicated that introducing a new opportunity for postgraduate students to meet and network with peers from different academic disciplines to share research experiences, while even for a short time, helped to improve a sense of belonging and renewed motivation to complete their studies.
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